“I know.”
“You laughed.”
“At him.”
“Yes.”
Martha’s mouth slowly opened.
“You had noticed me before Arthur died.”
Gideon’s eyes widened.
“No.”
Not that.
He corrected:
“I noticed.”
“Did nothing.”
“You were married.”
“Would never.”
Martha studied him.
“So when you heard he died…”
“I did nothing.”
“For months.”
“Then heard landlord.”
Martha felt something strange.
Not romantic exactly.
The knowledge that her life had existed in someone else’s awareness before she knew.
“You built beds because you already…”
Gideon looked away.
“Maybe.”
“Maybe what?”
“Martha.”
“Say.”
He groaned.
“I cared.”
She laughed softly.
“All those years.”
“Not years.”
“How long?”
“Two.”
“Two years is years.”
He looked trapped.
Martha moved closer.
“You giant fool.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Would sound strange.”
“It does.”
“Exactly.”
She touched his face.
“But beautiful.”
He kissed her.
At sixty-eight, Gideon became sick.
Not sudden.
Lungs.
Winter cough that stayed into spring.
Doctor said age.
Past cold damage.
Nothing much to fix.
Martha remembered Arthur.
Panic returned.
She became controlling.
Blankets.
Food.
Medicine.
Rest.
Gideon tolerated for month.
Then:
“Martha.”
“What?”
“Stop.”
She froze.
He looked at her.
“I’m not Arthur.”
Her eyes filled.
“No.”
“This isn't then.”
“I know.”
“You're trying to keep me alive by making me miserable.”
She laughed despite tears.
“You’re impossible.”
“Yes.”
“Sit outside with me.”
“Cold.”
“Blanket.”
She sighed.
They sat porch.
Mountains blue with evening.
Gideon’s breathing rough but steady.
Martha held his hand.
“I can't do this again.”
“Yes, you can.”
“I don't want to.”
“I know.”
“Don't die.”
He looked at her.
“Planning poorly in that department.”
She hit his arm.
He smiled.
“Listen.”
“No.”
“Martha.”
She turned away.
He squeezed fingers.
“You were never burden.”
She looked back.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“You never ate too much.”
“People were cruel.”
“You took room.”
“Good.”
“Cabin better for it.”
Martha cried.
Gideon continued:
“Children better.”
“Me better.”
“You came here with three pennies.”
“You gave me family worth more than everything on this mountain.”
She covered mouth.